Women's Footballer of the Year Candidate Russo

Age: 26 Position: Forward Teams: Arsenal and England

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they became the first British team to win the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the successful retention of their European Championship title.

She scored in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and found her groove for her club, making significant contributions throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

Russo was named the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for last season.

Russo finished as the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

She scored twelve league goals for the club and set up for a further two.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I know I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so that's something that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the important matches come around, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the last-eight game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"In my view the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that whole day was just being so calm, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not having the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"We as athletes in the press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But ultimately that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be content winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I hope that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

The striker scored twelve goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to share the scoring award.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but she was also a constant threat in the box all season long, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than any other player.

Her capability to contribute to the team outside of her goals distinguishes her.

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey regularly played forward balls into Russo, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, creating space from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her body well to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League last season, no player was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she remains aware of where rivals are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before locating close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, she is regularly able to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She can convert tough balls into long periods of controlled play and these possessions in the opponent's final third result in scores, many of which she ends up scoring herself.